What legal rights does a father have for a child born out of wedlock?

In North Carolina, a father of a child born out of wedlock does not have any automatic legal rights to the child, but he may be able to obtain them by formally establishing paternity. Establishing paternity usually involves taking a DNA test and filing legal documents with the court. Once the father establishes paternity, he will be legally recognized as the father and will have rights to the child. This includes the right to have custody and visitation rights, as well as the right to make decisions regarding the child’s education, medical care, and religious upbringing. The father will also be required to provide financial support for the child in the form of child support. The father’s legal rights to the child might also be recognized if he and the mother marry later, unless he signs a document relinquishing his rights. The mother can also establish paternity voluntarily by signing a form with the father, as long as the father agrees to recognize himself as the father. Ultimately, a father of a child born out of wedlock has the right to establish paternity and secure legal rights to the child, but it will take some legal action to make that happen.

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What legal rights does a father have for a child born out of wedlock?

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